Apparatus for grouping triangular roof trusses for banding



APPARATUS FOR GROUPING TRIANGULAR ROOF TRUSSES FOR BANDING Filed June 13. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M m m v m f/VBEKT C. PH/LL IPS WILL/5M5, NI/NIYELLEY Arrays 5y:

Dec. 30, 1969 c, ET AL 3,486,638

7 APPARATUS FOR GROUPING TRIANGULAR ROOF TRUSSE-S FOR BANDING Filed June 13. 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 HUBER? 6- PHIL L /P ga A 5, NUNNELLEY Dec. 30, 1969 H. c. PH|LL|Ps ET AL 3,486,638

I APPARATUS FOR GROUPING TRIANGULAR ROOF TRUSSE FOR BANDING Filed June 13. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS f/VBERTL. PH/LL/PS W/LL/AM ,6, hW/Y/YELLE %ZMF4 di I TTOKNEYJ United States Patent M APPARATUS FOR GROUPING TRIANGULAR ROOF TRUSSES FOR BANDING Hubert C. Phillips, 1400 Johnston Drive, and William B.

Nunnelley, 2018 Segrande Ave., both of Annistou, Ala. 36201 Filed June 13, 1968. Ser. No. 736.799

Int. Cl. B65g 57/09, 47/24, 57/16 US. Cl. 214-7 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Our invention relates to apparatus for grouping or assembling a plurality of triangular shaped wooded trusses and has for an object the provision of such apparatus in which a plurality of trusses may be grouped together, in elevated position above the ground, so that banding, strapping or the like may be placed about a plurality of such members, thereby to form a bundle or group of the same which may be handled as a unit.

An object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the character indicated in which the trusses'are received, in a generally horizontal position, on a pair of horizontally disposed conveyors, which conveyors deliver the trusses onto inclined conveyors, whereby as the trusses move upwardly relative to the ground the apices thereof are inverted, together with means to group the trusses so delivered.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which the conveyors operate in unison and intermittently, the conveyors being started in response to the positioning in proper manner of a truss over the horizontal conveyors, whereby the trusses are delivered one by one, onto the assembling mechanism at the discharge end of the inclined conveyors.

A further object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which means is provided for adjusting the width of the entire conveying mechanism and the assembly or holding mechanism to accommodate trusses of different base lengths.

A further object is to provide means adjacent the discharge ends of the upwardly inclined conveyors to impart motion to the trusses, to assure that they lie close to each other on the assembly station, facilitating banding.

Apparatus illustrating features of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

FIG. 1 is a wholly diagrammatic view, partly broken away and in section, and illustrating primarily the functional features of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail, fragmental sectional view taken generally along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail, fragmental view, drawn to an en- Patented Dec. 30, 1969 ICC larged scale, and taken generally along line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail fragmental sectional view taken generally along line V-V of FIG. 1 and illustrating a typical one of the mechanisms for shifting one side of the conveyors and assembly supports toward and from the other;

FIG. 6 is a detail elevational view taken generally along line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail fragmental view taken generally along line VIIVII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a detail fragmental view taken generally along line VIIIVIII of FIG. 1 and illustrating the limit or stop switch for the conveyors;

FIG. 9 is a detail diagrammatic view illustrating a part of the wiring diagram and control mechanism; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a control and a portion of the kicker mechanism located adjacent the end of the upwardly inclined conveyors.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention and particularly to FIG. 1 it will be seen that the trusses T, may be triangular shaped roof trusses made of the base pieces T1, the sloping pieces T2 and the vertical pieces T3. The object, as stated, is to receive the trusses one by one in a generally horizontal position as indicated in FIG. 1 at the right-hand side, convey them upwwardly, and group them so that a plurality may be banded or secured together by strapping or the like so that such group may be handled as a unit by lift truck or the like.

At 10 we show a pair of rolls located at a side of our apparatus. It is through these rolls that the trusses are delivered laterally and these rolls are driven in the directions indicated by a suitable means, not shown.

At 11 and 12 we show a pair of horizontal conveyors which may be endless chains which pass over sprockets 13 and 14. The sprockets 13 are mounted on suitable shafts 16 in turn rotatably mounted in bearings carried on standards 17. Similarly, the sprockets 14 are mounted in suitable bearings carried on supporting framework 18.

The sprockets 14 are mounted on the same shaft with sprockets 19 over which pass inclined endless conveyors 21. At their upper ends these conveyors 21 pass over sprockets 22 in turn mounted on shafts 23. The shafts 23 are mounted at the upper ends of vertically disposed supporting columns 24. Also mounted on the shafts 23 are sprockets 26 over which pass sprocket chains 27.

At 28 we show an electric motor which, through a reduction gear drive 29, drives a shaft 31 suitably supported in bearings 32 mounted on the vertical column 24 adjacent motor 28. Secured to the shaft 31 is a sprocket 33 over which passes the sprocket chain 27 nearest the motor 28. The shaft 31 passes through bearings mounted on intermediate support members 34. At 36 we show a coupling on the end of shaft 31. The coupling 36 operatively connects to the shaft 31 a square section of shaft indicated at 37. The square section 37 is supported for rotation in an intermediate support member 38 and a bearing 39 mounted on the vertical support column 24 opposite the motor 28.

It will be seen that as viewed in FIG. 1 each of the vertical column members 17, 18, 24 and still a third vertical member 41 all are mounted respectively on laterally disposed trackways 17a, 18a, 24a and 41a. That is to say, each of these vertical supporting sections or columns is provided at the bottom with rollers 42 which engage and ride on the respective tracks so that the entire left hand side of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 1 (the right hand side is viewed in FIG. 4), may be moved toward and from the other side of the apparatus. The square section 37 of the shaft passes slidably through a sprocket 33 over which passes the chain 27 of that side of the conveyor mechanism.

At 44 we show a second electric motor which drives a shaft 46 through a reduction gear box 47. The shaft 46 extends the entire length of the movable side of the apparatus. At the base of each of the wheel mounted vertical members 17, 18, 24 and 41 we provide one of the drum and pulley mechanisms shown more in detail in FIGS. to 7. Thus, at each of the places indicated, typically illustrated in FIG. 5 as being the vertical column 41, we provide on the shaft 46 a cable drum 48. About this drum we wrap a cable 49 and secure its ends as at 51 and 52 to the respective base framework 41a, 24a, 18a, or 17a, as the case may be.

Connecting the two vertical column members 24-41 at each side of the apparatus are a pair of members 53, generally horizontally extending, and on which the trusses T are adapted to be grouped as will presently appear.

In order to deliver the trusses onto the horizontal conveyors 11 and 12 we provide at 54 and 56 a pair of elongated rollers. These rollers may be continuously driven by an electric motor 57 through chains '58 and 59. Further, in order to guide the apex ends of the trusses as they traverse the open space laterally of the conveyors 11 and 12, We may provide plates 61 and 62 which act as guides so that if the end of the truss drops below the level of the rolls 54 and 56, such ends will be guided upwardly, onto the rolls.

From what has been so far described it will be seen that trusses delivered by the rolls 10, laterally, across the conveyors 11 and 12 may, if the conveyors 11 and 12 and the conveyors 21 are driven, be delivered up the incline and placed on the members 53. In such upward movement the apices of the trusses, by gravity, fall downwardly, so that the trusses literally are suspended or hang from the conveyors 21 or the members 53.

We will now describe the control means for automating our apparatus. First, it will be noted that the conveyors 11 and 12 are provided with truss engaging and moving attachments 63. In like manner, the inclined conveyors 21 are provided with attachments 64 which, as soon as the truss is delivered to a point adjacent the delivery end of the horizontal conveyors 11 and 12, are timed to come around the pulleys 19, in time to engage the truss and move it upwardly.

As best shown in FIG. 3, at the left hand or movable section side of the apparatus we provide a plate 66 pivoted at 67 and disposed in the path of the laterally moving trusses. This plate is adapted, when the truss moves against it, to actuate an electric switch 68. It is the actuation of the switch which, through the controls to be described, intermittently energizes the motor 28, thus to deliver the trusses upwardly and onto the members 53.

As shown in FIG. 9, the closing of switch 68 energizes the coil 69 of a solenoid switch. The momentary closing of switch 68 closes contacts 71, thereby energizing motor 28. Also, a set of holding contacts 72 is closed.

On the return flight of the horizontal conveyor 11, which flight is indicated as 110 we provide a downwardly directed attachment 73 which, after a truss is delivered onto the members 53 is adapted to strike the switch arm 74 of a switch 75, thus to deenergize the solenoid coil 69, thus completing one cycle of the apparatus. The momentum of the parts is such that the attachment 73 is carried slightly past the switch arm 74, whereby the switch, normally biased to closed position, is momentarily opened,

and then closed, readying the device for another cycle upon momentary closing of switch 68.

In order to assure that the trusses, as delivered from the discharge ends of the conveyors 21, bunch or lie close to each other, we provide kicker means adjacent the discharge end of the conveyors 21. Thus, each of these devices comprises a fluid pressure cylinder 76 carrying a yoke 77 on its piston rod. A kicker bar 78 passes through the yoke and its lower end is held in a slotted bracket member 79.

Mounted on one of the vertical column supports 24, in position to be struck by a truss moving down slide bars 81 is the switch arm 82 of a switch 83. The switch 83 is spring biased normally to open position and controls a solenoid 84 which in turn controls a valve 86. The valve 86 is adapted, when the switch 83 is closed to supply fluid under pressure to the non-piston rod ends of the cylinders 76, thereby to move the kickers 78 to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, thus to strike the trusses and impart motion to the trusses being delivered from the discharge ends of the conveyors 21 and sliding down the slide bars 81. Thus, we assure that the trusses bunch or group together on the horizontal support members 53, where bands or the like may be placed about groups of the same, whereby they may be handled efficiently.

The entire left hand side of the conveyor assembly and the members 53 may be moved toward and from the other side by energizing the motor 44, which is reversible, through simple electrical controls, not shown, whereby shaft 46 may be rotated to wind the cables on the drums 48, either to move the movable side toward or from the stationary side. Therefore, our invention is adapted for adjustment to accommodate trusses of varying base lengths, it being understood that the sliding pulley 43 on the square section shaft 37 permits this action.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved apparatus for grouping trusses, particularly triangular shaped trusses so that a group of them may be banded and handled as a unit. In actual practice our invention has proven to be satisfactory and entirely adequate for its intended purposes.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What We claim is:

1. In apparatus for grouping a plurality of V-shaped roof trusses,

(a) a pair of generally parallel endless conveyors having upper surfaces disposed to move in a generally horizontal plane,

(b) means to feed the trusses one by one onto the upper surfaces of said conveyors with the apices thereof generally in the plane of the remainder of the truss and pointing rearwardly relative to direction of travel of said upper surfaces of said conveyors,

(c) a second set of parallel conveyors adjacent the discharge end of the first set and inclined upwardly therefrom,

(d) the lateral spacing between said conveyors being such that with a truss moving up said inclined conveyors the apex of the truss hangs downwardly, and

(e) receiving means adjacent the discharge end of the second set of conveyors onto which the trusses are delivered, whereby groups of said trusses are assembled thereat in side by side, inverted relation, permitting banding of the same to form a unitary bundle of trusses which may be moved as a group.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is means to move one flight of each of said horizontal and inclined conveyors toward the other flights thereof, there by to accommodate trusses of varying base lengths.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means to feed the trusses onto the upper surfaces of said conveyors comprises means to deliver the same laterally and generally horizontally onto said upper flight of said horizontal conveyors.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which there is motorized means common to one flight of each of said conveyors for moving the same relative to the other corresponding flights thereof, thereby to accommodate trusses of varying base lengths.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is means adjacent the discharge end of the inclined conveyors effective to impart motion to each truss delivered therefrom to cause the trusses to bunch up on the receiving means, namely, to lie closely alongside each other on the receiving means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the said conveyors are driven in synchronism with each other, there being attachments 0n the conveyors effective to engage the trusses and move them.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which there is control means efiective upon being engaged by the end of an oncoming truss being moved onto the horizontal conveyors to actuate the drive means for such conveyors, whereby the trusses automatically start their movement horizontally and upwardly when in proper position upon the horizontal conveyors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1953 Hartzell. 10/ 1962 McAlpine et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,091,207 11/ 1967 Great Britain.

5 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner ROBERT J. SPAR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

